Coin and token dispenser



April 9, 1968 G. E. FULHORST 3,376,967

COIN AND TOKEN DISPENSER Filed NOV. 9, 1966 2 SheeLS--Sl'leetl l NVENTOR GEORGE E. FULHORST ATTORNEY April 9, 1968 G. E. FULHORST 3,376,967

COIN AND .'TOKEN DISPENSER Filed Nov. O, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MOTION oUTwARD INVENTOR ATTORNEY GEORGE E. FULHORST United States Patent C) 3,376,967 COIN AND TOKEN DISPENSER George E. Fulhorst, 2842 Forbes Ave., Santa Clara, Calif. 95051 Filed Nov. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 593,141 4 Claims. (Cl. 194-93) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin and token dispenser having a slide operated coin chute with a magazine from which coins and tokens are deposited into the coin slide for dispensing to oper ator. A retainer is provided which supports coins and tokens during movement therein.

This invention relates to a coin and token dispenser and is more particularly concerned with improvements of coin controlled mechanisms which will enable refunding of selected coins or tokens to the operator of the mechanism. Coins, as used herein, refer to minted coins of general legal tender used to operate a coin operated mechanism or device. The term token, as used herein, is intended to include `all tokens, checks or coins dispensed -from the coin operated mechanism to the operator thereof.

The increased use of coin operated mechanisms in the sale of services and merchandise has intensified competition for available business. Consequently, techniques for enhancing competitive advantage are increasingly significant to proprietors of coin operated mechanisms. The ability of a proprietor to selectively vary prices or provide additional incentives to use his mechanisms will enhance his competitive position. Techniques for securing such a competitive advantage which do not require replacement of nor extensive alteration of existing coin operated mechanisms are particularly desirable.

It is thus an objective of my invention to provide means for refunding selected coins to the user of a coin operated mechanism thereby enabling the proprietor to easily vary prices from time to time.

A further objective of my invention is to provide means for refunding selected tokens to the user of a coin operated mechanism which may be redeemed by t-he proprietor for services or merchandise.

A further objective of my invention is to provide means for refunding selected tokens to the -user of a coin operated mechanism thereby enabling the proprietor to permit use of a separate or complementary coin controlled apparatus for the value required to actuate the initial coin controlled mechanism. For example the proprietor of a coin operated laundry may, for promotional or other purposes, desire to dispense tokens from a coin operated washing apparatus, the tokens being acceptable to activate a coin operated drying apparatus.

A. further objective of my invention is to provide a means for refunding selected coins or tokens at the same location where operating coin was deposited thus not requiring the operator to look to another location for refund and thus the refund is not so likely to be overlooked.

Another objective of my invention is to provide a coin and token dispenser which will -be compatible with and readily and simply adaptable to use with existing coin controlled mechanisms.

Various other objects and advantages together with the precise nature of my invention will appear and be readily understood from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

3,376,967 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 Pce A detailed description of the invention follows in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a single coin and token dispenser.

FIGURE 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the single coin and token dispenser, on line 2--2 in FIGURE l, showing the parts in their initial or coin receiving postion.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view.

FIGURE 4 is a central vertical sectional view showing the parts in position for receiving the coin or token to be dispensed.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are fragmentary central vertical sectional views illustrating an alternative token magazine construction and operation.

FIGURE 7 is a central vertical sectional View showing location of token magazine not requiring a token retainer.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a multiple coin chute with two coin and token dispensers as incorporated into a multiple coin operated mechanism or device.

Throughout the figures of the drawings some parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, and 3 wherein the coin and token dispenser comprises a slide operated c-oin chute 10 with its characteristic coin receiving and actuating mechanism to which, with possibly slight modifications, is attached a coin or token magazine 30y and a retainer 40.

More particularly, the coin and token dispenser comprises a guide structure 11 being provided with a face plate or mounting plate 12 which incorporates an indicator light 13, a Ibottom wall 14 with an essentially llat upper f' surface 15 and a depressed ledge or ramp 16 terminating at a coin-discharge aperture 17 through the bottom wall 14. The guide structure 11 may also be provided with the usual dogs and other fraud prevention devices, generally indicated at 18.

A coin slide 19 is carried by the guide structure 11 and is provided with a coin-receiving aperture 20 capable of accommodating the thickness of operating coins 21 and dispensed tokens 22. A return spring 23 to return o-r bias the coin slide 19 in its outward or initial coin receiving position is disposed between studs or projections attached to the coin slide 19 as at 24 and to the guide structure 11 as at 25.

A token magazine is affixed by appropriate fasteners 31 to the guide structure 11 in a location whereby the coin-receiving aperture 20 of the coin slide 19 will register therewith after operating coin 21 has been discharged therefrom through the coin-discharge aperture 17 into an appropriate vault, coin box or-depository 3'2. The token magazine 30l comprises a tubular receptacle 33 holding tokens 22 in a stacked relationship, the tubular receptacle 33 having a bottom opening 34 through which tokens are deposited into the coin receiving aperture y20 of the coin slide 19, the other end of the tubular receptacle 33 being provided with a slotted closure 35 through which tokens may be introduced into the tubular receptacle 33, a mounting block 36 to which the tubular receptacle 33 is mounted by a thread means 37 permitting adjustment necessary to assure proper spacial relationship between the discharge opening 34 of the tubular receptacle 33 and the upper surface 15 of the bottom wall 14 commensurate with the thickness of tokens to assure dispensing a determinable number of tokens, and a lock nut 38 to secure the tubular receptacle 33 to the mounting block 36 at the selected adjustment.

A token retainer 40 located within the coin-discharge aperture 17 of the guide structure 11 and aixed thereto by an appropriate fastener 41. The token retainer 40 may be bifurcated -as necessary to accommodate a depressed tooth 42 on the coin slide 19 with the top surface 43 of the token retainer 40 located in the same plane as the upper surface of the bottom wall 14 to permit discharge of the operating coin 21 through the coin-discharge aperture 17 yet effectively bridging the coin-discharge aperture 17 to prevent deposited bottom token 44 from falling through the coin-discharge aperture 17 while being withdrawn in the coin-receiving aperture of the coin slide 19.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a token magazine 30 which incorporates a follower 50, compression spring 51 and a removable closure or cap 52 which will force feed the stacked tokens 22, not relying upon gravity. The coin slide 19 is shown in a fully activated position wherein the operating coin 21 has been discharged from the coin-receiving aperture 20 through the coindischarge aperture 17 and the continued movement, left to right, of the coin slide 19 has brought the coin-receiving aperture 20 into registry 'with the tubular receptacle 33 of the token magazine allowing the single bottom token 44 to be deposited within the coin-receiving aperture 20.

A variation of the token magazine is illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 which assures the singular dispensing of relatively thin tokens. A tubular collar 50 is slidably appended to the discharge opening 34 of the tubular receptacle 33. The tubular collar -60 having an externally beveled lower edge 61 cooperating with a downwardlly beveled upper edge 62 provided around the coin-receiving aperture 20 of the coin slide 19 and urged thereagainst by gravity of a resilient material or spring 63.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a coin and token dispenser wherein the token magazine 30 is located on the guide structure 11 to deposit tokens into the coin-receiving aperture 20 of the coin slide 19 after operating coin has been discharged from the coin-receiving aperture 20. A token magazine 30 similar to that ilustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 is employed for singular dispensing of relatively thin tokens, except no spring 63 is indicated, the tubular collar 60 being urged against the coin slide 19 by gravity alone.

An alternative to the arrangement illustrated in FIG- URE 7 would employ a force feed token magazine, similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 4, mounted to the underside of the bottom wall of the guide structure in an inverted orientation, depositing tokens `upwardly lthrough an `appropriate opening through the bottom wall onto the coin-receiving aperture of the coin slide carried by the guide structure.

An arrangement of a coin operated apparatus or device incorporating a multiple coin or token dispenser is illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein the enclosure or cabinet is generally indicated at 70 and a slide operated dual coin chute 71 is mounted therein, a dual token magazine 72 being mounted on the guide structure of the dual coin chute 71 with appropriate fasteners 31. The dual token magazine 72 incorporating two tubular receptacles 33 upon a single mounting block 36. A vault, coin box or depository -32 is situated 'wit-hin lthe enclosure or cabinet 70 and below the slide operated dual coin chute 71 to receive the operating coins 21 discharged therefrom. The tubular receptacles 33 of the dual token magazine 72 extending through the enclosure or cabinet 70 to permit replenishing the supply of tokens without opening the enclosure or cabinet. Locking closures or caps may be employed in addition to or in place of the slotted closures to discourage or prevent piliferage. An indicator light 13 can provide an indication of use to which dispensed tokens may be applied, for example: Free Play, Free Dry, etc., as well as illuminating the coin-receiving aperture 20 and calling attention of the operator to the location, in the coin-receiving aperture 20, of dispensed tokens.

Operation The tokens dispensed by the coin and token dispenser are no larger in diameter than the operating coins acceptable to the coin-receiving aperture and operable in the coin slide. Accordingly the dispensed tokens may or may not be accommodated by the particular coin operate-d apparatus or device from which dispensed. The fraud preventive features of a slide operated coin chute may be modified to accept tokens of the same diameter as coins or reject them, `accepting `only coins. Tokens of a thickness exceeding that of coins may be utilized thus restricting their use to those selected coin operated devices which have 4a coin chute modified to accept the thicker tokens. If tokens are same diameter as a coin, modifications of selected coin chutes will permit activation of those coin operated devices by either the thicker token `or `appropriate coins.

To illustrate operation of the coin and token dispenser in a practical context, assume that the proprietor of a coin operated laundry facility desires, for promotional purposes to provide a free dry-ing service to those using his coin operated washers. Assume the coin operated washers are activated by use of United State twenty-tive cent minted coins, quarters, and the coin operated dryers lare normally activated by United States ten cent minted coins, dimes. The proprietor can add token magazines as hereinbefore described, to existing quarter activated slide operated coin chutes on the washers dispensing tokens therefrom. Tokens of the same diameter but of greater thickness than a minted dime may be used as they would not `be universally interchangeable with minted dimes to activate any dime operated mechanism. Selective modification of the fraud prevention devices on the dime activated coin chutes on the dryers will permit their acceptance of the tokens as well as minted dimes.

In operation a coin of the intended denomination and proper diameter, a minted quarter, is placed in the coinreceiving aperture 20 of the coin slide 19 and the latter is pushed inwardly, left to right in FIGURE 2, the quarter riding on the essentially fiat upper surface 15 of the bottom wall 14 of the guide structure 11. As coin encounters the ramp 16 it will be diverted downwardly from the coin-changing aperture 20 and will drop through the coin discharge aperture 17 in the bottom wall 14 of the guide structure 11 into a suitable vault, coin box, or depositiory 32 as `indicated in FIGURE 8.

Continued inward motion, left to right in FIGURE 4, of the coin slide 19 will activate the indicator light 13 and activate the :washer iby suitable switches (not shown) and bring the now empty coin-receiving aperture 20 of the coin slide 19 into registry with the tubular receptacle 33 of the token magazine 30 and the bottom token 44 of the stacked tokens 22 will drop by gravity, or by force feed, into coin-receiving aperture 20 resting on the top surface 43 of the token retainer 40.

As the coin slide 19 is withdrawn outwardly or returned, Vright to left, by a return spring 23, or other means, the token 44 within the coin-receiving aperture 20 will be withdrawn outwardly, right to left, riding on the top surface 43 of the token retainer 40 `and crossing the coin-discharge aperture 17 due to the limited opening and failure to encounter the downwardly beveled ramp 16 in the direction of withdrawal. The coin slide 19 upon full withdrawal to its initial position will carry the dispensed token 44 in the coin-receiving aperture 20 to the initial exposed location permitting the operator to remove the token 44 from the coin-receiving aperture 20 for retention or use in the coin operated dryer which has been modified to be operable by the token.

To dispense tokens of the thickness of a single coin refer to FIGURE 5 wherein the coin-receiving aperture 20 of the coin slide 19 upon registry with the tubular receptacle 33 will accept the bottom token 44 from the stacked tokens 22 and the tubular collar 60 will by gravity or the urging of the spring 63 slide downward with the stack of tokens 22, the externally beveled lower edge 61 of the tubular collar 60 resting on the beveled upper edge 62 provided around the coin-receiving aperture 20 of the Coin slide 19.

As the coin slide 19l is withdrawn, right to left in FIGURE 6, the token 44 within the coin-receiving aperture 20 will be withdrawn outwardly sliding on the top surface 43 of the token retainer 40 and upper surface y15 of. the bottom wall 14 of the guide structure 11. The tubular collar 60 will maintain alignment of the stacked tokens 22 above the bottom token 44 and will with the stacked tokens 22 ride up the beveled upper edge 62 around the coin-receiving aperture 20 thus limiting discharge to the single bottom taken 44 resting within the coin-receiving aperture 20 which is not restrained within the tubular collar 60.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 7 the stacked tokens 22 ride across the operating coin occupying the coin-receiving aperture 20 as the coin slide 19 is pushed inwardly, left to right. As the coin-receiving aperture 20 registers with the coin-discharge aperture 17 the operating coin 21 drops from the coin-receiving aperture 20 and through the coin-discharge aperture 17 into a suitable vault, coin box or depository 32 as indicated in FIGURE 8. Upon withdrawal, right to left, of the coin slide 19 the now empty coin-receiving aperture 20 will, upon registry with the tubular receptacle 33 of the token magazine accept the bottom token 44 from the stacked tokens 22. Upon full withdrawal, right to left, of the coin slide 19 to its initial position token 44 deposited into the coin-receiving aperture 20 will be carried to the initial exposed location permitting the operator to remove the `token from the coin-receiving aperture 20 for retention or use.

Whereas I have shown and ydescribed an operative form of the invention, it should be understood that this description should be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are many Variations and modifications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art which will not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention. I therefore, do not wish to 'be limi-ted to the precise details of construction set forth, but `desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended cl-aims.

What is claimed is:

1. A token dispenser comprising a slide operated coin chute including a guide structure with a bottom wall provided with an upper surface,

a ramp extending downwardly and terminating at a coin-discharge aperture through said bottom wall, and

a coin slide carried by said guide structure provided with a coin-receiving aperture;

a token magazine mounted to said guide structure, said magazine including a receptacle holding tokens in a stacked relationship said receptacle having a bottom opening thereto through which tokens are deposited into said coin-receiving aperture for dispensing thereof,

a mounting block to which said receptacle is adjustably attached and by which s-aid magazine is mounted to said guide structure in a vertical relationship to the bottom wall, said magazine being in a fixed spacial relationship with said coin-discharge aperture, permitting operating coins to be discharged from said coin-receiving aperture through said coin-discharge aperture before continued motion of said coin slide positions said coin-receiving aperture thereof in registered relation to said magazine; and

a retainer situated within said coin-discharge aperture and aixed to said guide structure, said retainer presenting an essentially hat top surface in the same plane as the upper surface of said bottom wall, providing support for tokens deposited from said magazine into said coin-receiving aperture during withdrawal across said coin-discharge aperture.

2. A token dispenser comprising a slide operated coin chute including a guide structure with a mounting plate, a bottom wall with an essentially at upper surface, and a ramp extending downwardly and terminating at a coin-discharge aperture through said bottom wall, a coin slide carried by said guide structure provided with a coin-receiving aperture, and a return spring disposed between said guide structure and said coin slide biasing said coin slide in its outward position;

a token magazine mounted to said guide structure, said magazine including a tubular receptacle holding tokens in a stacked relationship, said tubular receptacle having a bottom opening thereto through which tokens are deposited into said coin-receiving aperture for dispensing thereof, the top end of said tubular receptacle being provided with a slotted closure through which tokens are introduced into said tubular receptable, and a mounting block to which said tubular receptacle is threadedly attached and by which said magazine is mounted to said guide structure positioning said tubular lreceptacle in a vertical relationship to said bottom wall, the central axis of said tubular receptacle being in a fixed spacial relationship to said coin-discharge aperture permitting operating coins to be discharged from said coin-receiving aperture and through said coin-discharge aperture before continued motion of said coin slide positions said coinreceiving aperture thereof in registered relation to the axis of said magazine; and

a retainer situated within said coin-discharge aperture and aixed to said guide structure, said retainer presenting an essentially fiat top surface in the same plane as the .upper surface of said bottom wall providing support for token deposited from said magazine into said coin-receiving aperture during withdrawal across said coin-discharge aperture.

3. A token dispenser comprising a slide operated coin chute including a guide structure with a mounting plate, a bottom wall with an essentially at upper surface,

a ramp extending downwardly and terminating at a coin-discharge aperture through said bottom wall,

a coin slide carried by said guide structure provided with a coin-receiving aperture, and a return spring disposed between said guide structure and s'aid coin slide biasing said coin slide in its outward position;

a token magazine mounted to said guide structure,

said magazine including a tubular receptacle holding tokens in a stacked relationship said tubular receptacle having external threads at the bottom end thereof,

a bottom opening through which tokens are deposited into said coin-receiving aperture for dispensing thereof, the top end of said tubular receptacle being provided with a closure,

a compression spring disposed between said closure and a follower providing a positive force to discharge stacked tokens through said bottom opening,

a mounting block with an internally threaded opening receiving the external threads of said tubular receptacle and providing means by which said magazine is mounted to said guide structure, positioning said tubuuar receptacle in vertical relationship to said bottom wall, the central axis of said tubular receptacle being in a fixed spacial relationship to said coindischarge aperture permitting operating coins to be discharged from said coin-receiving aperture and through said coin-discharge aperture before continued motion of said coin slide positions said coin-receiving aperture thereof in registered relation to the axis of said magazine, and la lock nut operable on the external threads of said tubular receptacle to secure said tubular receptacle in spaced relationship to the upper surface of said bottom wall; and a retainer situated within said coin-discharge aperture and axed to said guide structure, said retainer presenting an essentially flat top surface in the same plane as the upper surface of said `bottom wall, providing support for tokens deposited from said magazine into said coin-receiving aperture dur ing withdrawal across said coin-discharge aperture. 4. A token dispenser comprising a slide operated coin chute including a guide structure with a mounting plate, a bottom wall with an essentially flat upper surface,

a ramp extending downwardly and terminating at a coin-discharge aperture through said bottom wall,

a coin slide carried by said guide structure provided with ya coin-receiving aperture, the upper edge of said coinreceiving aperture being beveled downwardly, and

a return spring disposed between said guide structure and said coin slide biasing said coin slide in its outward position;

a token magazine mounted to said guide structure,

said magazine including a tubular receptacle holding tokens in a stacked relationship said tubular receptacle having a bottom opening, and

a tu-bular collar slidably appended thereto,

said tubular collar having its lower external edge beveled and cooperatively acting with the downwardly beveled upper edge of said coin-receiving aperture assuring that single tokens are deposited into said coin-receiving aperture, said collar being biased downwardly by a spring acting thereon,

a mounting block to which said tubular receptacle is afxed and by which said magazine is mounted to said guide structure positioning said tubular receptacle in a vertical relationship to said bottom wall, the central axis of said tubular receptacle being in a fixed spacial relationship to said coin-discharge aperture permiting operating coins to be discharged from said coin-receiving yaperture and through said coin-discharge aperture before continued motion of said coin slide positions said coin-receiving aperture thereof in registered relation to the axis of said magazine; and a retainer situated within said coin-discharge laperture and affixed to said :guide structure, said retainer presenting an essentially flat top surface in the same plane as the upper surface of said bottom wall, providing support for tokens deposited from said magazine into said coin-receiving aperture during withdrawal lacross said coin-discharge aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,754 12/1913 -Foster 194-93 2,365,257 12/1944 Emerson et al. 194-58 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

